(Read Daniel 6:26-28)
This morning I will share a different type of message, but one I still consider to be part of the Grace Based Success (Prosperity) series. For days we have been working our way through the following passage:
The Bible says, “I am making a new law. This law is for people in every part of my kingdom. All of you must fear and respect the God of Daniel. Daniel’s God is the living God; he lives forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His rule will never end. God helps and saves people. He does amazing miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the lions. So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was king and when Cyrus the Persian was king.”
Today my intention was to deal with the words, “So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was king and when Cyrus the Persian was king.” Instead of focusing on Daniel’s success, which came by God’s grace, I will share a few thoughts about my own. See, yesterday was my last official workday in the United States Army. I joined the Army at the tender age of 17 and 25 years later, the Lord has released me to go on to the next phase of my life. As I drove home from the Pentagon yesterday my heart was filled with emotion and my head was filled with 25 years of memories.
In today’s message I feel led to share a few thoughts about my Army career, how God has blessed me by His grace, and how thankful I am for His goodness. The Bible says, “So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was king and when Cyrus the Persian was king.” My book is not named the Bible, but I do have a book with my name in it in heaven. I am sure my book says, “So Rick Piña was successful during his military career, because the Lord was with him.”
So what does this mean to you today? I will seek to share a few golden nuggets with you from my life and testimony. My life is far from over. My army career was simply a chapter, albeit an important one. During the days ahead I will look back, reflect and continue to give God praise. So let’s get to it.
- God is in the business of making holy garments from flawed material. When I came to God I was a young, arrogant, prideful, cussing Soldier. God looked pasts my flaws and saw His purpose. If God could make a successful Soldier and anointed preacher out of me, then He can most certainly use you for His glory.
- God can make champions out of nobodies. When I joined the Army I did not know one person within its ranks. No one knew me and I knew no one. But God knew me and He had a plan for me for my time in the Army. God’s plan took me around the world to accomplish His purposes and it elevated me to the highest levels. God did it for me and He can do it for you.
- God can open doors no man can close. My Army career is a story of divine favor. Dating back to the time when I was 18 years old, God opened doors for me, brought me before great men, and had people to invest in me, even when I did not deem myself worthy of the investment. Looking back and I extremely thankful for God’s grace and favor. Assignments were reserved and new positions were created for me on several occasions; oftentimes in spite of the fact that Soldiers much more senior to me were available. Never underestimate the favor of God. Favor can do more in a minute than labor can do in a lifetime.
- God can make His children trailblazers. I can think of at least three positions I held that did not exist before I arrived. God used me to forge the way for a new sphere of influence in my field. Over the past five years God graced me to create over 10 keys positions. Not only that, but He then blessed me to place the right people in the positions. God will bless you to blaze trails and to leave a legacy excellence.
- God can change your life and then use you to change the lives of others. My life changed forever on a warm night in Kuwait when I, as a 23 year old Staff Sergeant, gave my life to Jesus. Since then God blessed me to rise through the ranks to the highest Warrant Officer position in my field. But what I believe to be my greatest impact and legacy has nothing to do with rank or the uniform. Since the day I gave my life to Christ God has used me to lead countless (literally countless) people to Him. I have prayed with Generals and Privates, preached in tents and chapels, held revival in Bosnia and Iraq, offered communion in the middle of a desert (NTC) and in the middle of bustling cities (like Seoul, Korea). I am thankful for leading Iraqis to Jesus. I am thankful for ministering the Gospel within the halls of the Pentagon. I am thankful for closed door prayer sessions with leaders at the highest levels. I am thankful for everything… ever life the Father blessed me to touch, every person who has come to Christ through my ministry, and every testimony I have heard through the years. If God could use me, a Dominican kid from Brooklyn, then surely He can use you – He can use you to change the world!
Closing Confession: Father, thank You for making me a grace based success. I am whom You say I am. I can do what You say I can do. I can and will go wherever You lead me to go. I will accomplish all I was born to accomplish. I am not a self-made man. I am a God-made man/woman. I am a success, by Your grace and for Your glory. I enter this day determined to make the most of it. I run with patience the race You have set before me, knowing I have the grace for my race. I run my race with diligence. I run my race with confidence. I run my race with peace. I run my race with gratitude. You open doors for me that no man can close. You elevate me and bring me before great men. You make my name great. You give me influence, favor, grace and power, so I can use it all for Your glory. I will leave a legacy of righteousness. I will leave a legacy of excellence. I will leave a mark in this world that is not easily erased. I will… by Your grace, for Your glory, because of Your goodness. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
